Macker Returns

Terry McAuliffe has made his first entry into the gubernatorial race since embracing Creigh Deeds after losing to him in the June 9 primary.

In an email to supporters today, McAuliffe encourages people to sign a Deeds petition calling on Republican Bob McDonnell to apologize for Republican Party of Virginia Chairman Pat Mullins' remark that some college students in Wise County "preferred welfare to work."

"It's clear that Bob McDonnell has totally lost touch with what Virginians are going through, and we need to put the pressure on him," McAuliffe wrote.

(This being a political campaign, this petition calls on McDonnell to apologize for a remark made by Mullins.)

McAuliffe may have lost to Deeds by 25 points. But his name still attracts a lot of attention. The Deeds campaign said the minute his email hit, their phone started ringing with national press calls. "Terry's back?" was the theme.

Emailed petitions are one thing. Next question: Is McAuliffe making fundraising calls to his donors on Deeds' behalf?